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Author

Kern Rim

Other affiliations: GlobalFoundries, Stanford University
Bio: Kern Rim is an academic researcher from IBM. The author has contributed to research in topics: Layer (electronics) & Electron mobility. The author has an hindex of 27, co-authored 88 publications receiving 3473 citations. Previous affiliations of Kern Rim include GlobalFoundries & Stanford University.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, deep submicron strained-Si n-MOSFETs were fabricated on strained Si/relaxed Si/sub 0.8/Ge/sub sub 0.2/ heterostructures to yield well matched channel doping profiles after processing, allowing comparison of strained and unstrained Si surface channel devices.
Abstract: Deep submicron strained-Si n-MOSFETs were fabricated on strained Si/relaxed Si/sub 0.8/Ge/sub 0.2/ heterostructures. Epitaxial layer structures were designed to yield well-matched channel doping profiles after processing, allowing comparison of strained and unstrained Si surface channel devices. In spite of the high substrate doping and high vertical fields, the MOSFET mobility of the strained-Si devices is enhanced by 75% compared to that of the unstrained-Si control devices and the state-of-the-art universal MOSFET mobility. Although the strained and unstrained-Si MOSFETs exhibit very similar short-channel effects, the intrinsic transconductance of the strained Si devices is enhanced by roughly 60% for the entire channel length range investigated (1 to 0.1 /spl mu/m) when self-heating is reduced by an ac measurement technique. Comparison of the measured transconductance to hydrodynamic device simulations indicates that in addition to the increased low-field mobility, improved high-field transport in strained Si is necessary to explain the observed performance improvement. Reduced carrier-phonon scattering for electrons with average energies less than a few hundred meV accounts for the enhanced high-field electron transport in strained Si. Since strained Si provides device performance enhancements through changes in material properties rather than changes in device geometry and doping, strained Si is a promising candidate for improving the performance of Si CMOS technology without compromising the control of short channel effects.

431 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
11 Jun 2002
TL;DR: In this article, current drive enhancements were demonstrated in the strained-Si PMOSFETs with sub-100 nm physical gate lengths for the first time, as well as in the NMOSFets with well-controlled threshold voltage V/sub T/ and overlap capacitance C/sub OV/ characteristics for L/sub poly/ and L/ sub eff/ below 80 nm and 60 nm.
Abstract: Current drive enhancements were demonstrated in the strained-Si PMOSFETs with sub-100 nm physical gate lengths for the first time, as well as in the NMOSFETs with well-controlled threshold voltage V/sub T/ and overlap capacitance C/sub OV/ characteristics for L/sub poly/ and L/sub eff/ below 80 nm and 60 nm. A 110% enhancement in the electron mobility was observed in the strained Si devices with 1.2% tensile strain (28% Ge content in the relaxed SiGe buffer), along with a 45% increase in the peak hole mobility.

265 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
02 Dec 2001
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss device characteristics such as gate leakage currents, flatband voltage shifts, charge trapping, channel mobility, as well as integration and processing aspects for high-K dielectric integration into current Si technology.
Abstract: Reviews recent progress in and outlines the issues for high-K high-temperature (/spl sim/1000/spl deg/C) poly-Si CMOS processes and devices and also demonstrate possible solutions Specifically, we discuss device characteristics such as gate leakage currents, flatband voltage shifts, charge trapping, channel mobility, as well as integration and processing aspects Results on a variety of high-K candidates including HfO/sub 2/, Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, HfO/sub 2//Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, ZrO/sub 2/, silicates, and AlN/sub y/(O/sub x/) deposited on silicon by different deposition techniques are shown to illustrate the complex issues for high-K dielectric integration into current Si technology

219 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
08 Dec 2003
TL;DR: In this article, a tensile-strained Si layer was transferred to form an ultra-thin (<20 nm) strained Si directly on insulator (SSDOI) structure and electron and hole mobility enhancements were demonstrated.
Abstract: A tensile-strained Si layer was transferred to form an ultra-thin (<20 nm) strained Si directly on insulator (SSDOI) structure. MOSFETs were fabricated, and for the first time, electron and hole mobility enhancements were demonstrated on strained Si directly on insulator structures with no SiGe layer present under the strained Si channel.

206 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
12 Jun 2001
TL;DR: In this paper, a 70% increase in electron mobility was observed at vertical fields as high as 1.5 MV/cm for the first time, suggesting a new mobility enhancement mechanism in addition to reduced phonon scattering.
Abstract: Performance enhancements in strained Si NMOSFETs were demonstrated at L/sub eff/<70 nm. A 70% increase in electron mobility was observed at vertical fields as high as 1.5 MV/cm for the first time, suggesting a new mobility enhancement mechanism in addition to reduced phonon scattering. Current drive increase by /spl ges/35% was observed at L/sub eff/<70 nm. These results indicate that strain can be used to improve CMOS device performance at sub-100 nm technology nodes.

179 citations


Cited by
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Patent
01 Aug 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the oxide semiconductor film has at least a crystallized region in a channel region, which is defined as a region of interest (ROI) for a semiconductor device.
Abstract: An object is to provide a semiconductor device of which a manufacturing process is not complicated and by which cost can be suppressed, by forming a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film typified by zinc oxide, and a manufacturing method thereof. For the semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a substrate; a gate insulating film is formed covering the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film is formed over the gate insulating film; and a first conductive film and a second conductive film are formed over the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film has at least a crystallized region in a channel region.

1,501 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the history and current progress in highmobility strained Si, SiGe, and Ge channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) can be found in this article.
Abstract: This article reviews the history and current progress in high-mobility strained Si, SiGe, and Ge channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). We start by providing a chronological overview of important milestones and discoveries that have allowed heterostructures grown on Si substrates to transition from purely academic research in the 1980’s and 1990’s to the commercial development that is taking place today. We next provide a topical review of the various types of strain-engineered MOSFETs that can be integrated onto relaxed Si1−xGex, including surface-channel strained Si n- and p-MOSFETs, as well as double-heterostructure MOSFETs which combine a strained Si surface channel with a Ge-rich buried channel. In all cases, we will focus on the connections between layer structure, band structure, and MOS mobility characteristics. Although the surface and starting substrate are composed of pure Si, the use of strained Si still creates new challenges, and we shall also review the litera...

918 citations

Book
17 Oct 2007
TL;DR: FinFETs and Other Multi-Gate Transistors provides a comprehensive description of the physics, technology and circuit applications of multigate field-effect transistors (FET) and explains the physics and properties.
Abstract: FinFETs and Other Multi-Gate Transistors provides a comprehensive description of the physics, technology and circuit applications of multigate field-effect transistors (FETs). It explains the physics and properties of these devices, how they are fabricated and how circuit designers can use them to improve the performances of integrated circuits. The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) recognizes the importance of these devices and places them in the "Advanced non-classical CMOS devices" category. Of all the existing multigate devices, the FinFET is the most widely known. FinFETs and Other Multi-Gate Transistors is dedicated to the different facets of multigate FET technology and is written by leading experts in the field.

843 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
03 Apr 2009
TL;DR: This paper provides a comprehensive overview of integrated piezoresistor technology with an introduction to the physics of Piezoresistivity, process and material selection and design guidance useful to researchers and device engineers.
Abstract: Piezoresistive sensors are among the earliest micromachined silicon devices. The need for smaller, less expensive, higher performance sensors helped drive early micromachining technology, a precursor to microsystems or microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The effect of stress on doped silicon and germanium has been known since the work of Smith at Bell Laboratories in 1954. Since then, researchers have extensively reported on microscale, piezoresistive strain gauges, pressure sensors, accelerometers, and cantilever force/displacement sensors, including many commercially successful devices. In this paper, we review the history of piezoresistance, its physics and related fabrication techniques. We also discuss electrical noise in piezoresistors, device examples and design considerations, and alternative materials. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of integrated piezoresistor technology with an introduction to the physics of piezoresistivity, process and material selection and design guidance useful to researchers and device engineers.

789 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The process steps and design aspects that were developed at IBM to enable the formation of stacked device layers are reviewed, including the descriptions of a glass substrate process to enable through-wafer alignment and a single-damascene patterning and metallization method for the creation of high-aspect-ratio capability.
Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs), which contain multiple layers of active devices, have the potential to dramatically enhance chip performance, functionality, and device packing density. They also provide for microchip architecture and may facilitate the integration of heterogeneous materials, devices, and signals. However, before these advantages can be realized, key technology challenges of 3D ICs must be addressed. More specifically, the processes required to build circuits with multiple layers of active devices must be compatible with current state-of-the-art silicon processing technology. These processes must also show manufacturability, i.e., reliability, good yield, maturity, and reasonable cost. To meet these requirements, IBM has introduced a scheme for building 3D ICs based on the layer transfer of functional circuits, and many process and design innovations have been implemented. This paper reviews the process steps and design aspects that were developed at IBM to enable the formation of stacked device layers. Details regarding an optimized layer transfer process are presented, including the descriptions of 1) a glass substrate process to enable through-wafer alignment; 2) oxide fusion bonding and wafer bow compensation methods for improved alignment tolerance during bonding; 3) and a single-damascene patterning and metallization method for the creation of high-aspect-ratio (6:1 108 vias/cm2), and extremely aggressive wafer-to-wafer alignment (submicron) capability.

740 citations